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Ripon College Athletics

The Official Athletics Site of the Ripon College Red Hawks
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Doc Weiske '50 Memorial Gymnasium

SPORTS: Volleyball and Basketball

Built in 1967, and fully renovated in 2017, the "Doc" Weiske  '50 Memorial Gymnasium sits inside Willmore Center and houses Julie Johnson and Bob Gillespie Courts where Ripon's men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball teams play. Red Hawk nation can be seen cheering their teams on in this 1,200-seat gymnasium that has seen a total of 17 conference championships.

Doc Weiske '50 Memorial Gymnasium is named for legendary player and coach Doc Weiske. As a student at Ripon, Weiske played football, basketball and track. His individual basketball career scoring total of 1,188 points, earned him the nickname "Mr. Basketball" and stood as a Ripon College record from 1950 until 1978. He was Ripon basketball's first-ever All-Conference selection, earning First Team honors in each of his final three seasons. 

As Head Men's Basketball Coach from 1958-66, and again from 1972-80, Weiske led Ripon to five Midwest Conference Championships and two NCAA Division III playoff appearances, while compiling a career record of 203-148. Weiske led Ripon to a winning season in his final 14 years with the team.

The "Bob Gillespie Court" is named for retired head men's basketball coach Bob Gillespie, who spent one year as Weiske's assistant coach before taking over as Head Men's Basketball Coach for the 1980-81 season. Gillespie is Ripon's all-time winningest coach in both men's basketball and baseball, recording a combined record of 869-536-3. He is one of just two coaches in Midwest Conference men's basketball history to win more than 500 games, finishing his career with 510 victories on the hardwood.

The "Julie Johnson Court" is named for revered athletic director, legendary Red Hawks women's basketball coach and beloved ambassador for Ripon College, the late Julie Johnson. During her illustrious career, she led the Red Hawks Women’s Basketball team from 1990-2013, to a career record of 303-237 (.561) becoming the program’s winningest coach and one of only four coaches in Midwest Conference history to record more than 300 career victories. She was also one of four coaches to win at least 200 conference games. Johnson’s basketball teams won four MWC Championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in all four of those years (1996, 2004, 2005 and 2009). She coached four All-Americans, five All-Region performers, three MWC Players of the Year, and 41 all-conference selections. She was named MWC Coach of the Year four times (1995, 2004, 2005 and 2009), and NCAA women’s basketball Central Region Coach of the Year in 2004. As Athletic Director, Julie led the Red Hawks to unprecedented growth and success, attracting record numbers of student-athletes, introducing new sports and multiple new coaching positions to support the department’s 21 programs, and generating historic alumni engagement.

Directions to Doc Weiske '50 Memorial Gymnasium at Willmore Center:

From: Green Bay Take Hwy 41 south to Oshkosh. Exit Hwy 44 (South Park Rd.) and turn right (west). Follow 44 west 18 miles into Ripon. Continue on 44, now Oshkosh Ave., for approx. two miles to stoplight at intersection with Hwy 23. Continue straight through stoplight, (Oshkosh Ave. has now turned into Union St.) for six blocks. A parking lot is on right hand side.
Approx. Travel Time: 1 hr. 15 min.

From: Madison Take Hwy 151 north towards Fond du Lac. Exit CTH MMM north to Waupun. Continue three miles into Waupun on MMM to first stop sign at intersection with Hwy 49. Turn left or west on 49, and Ripon is 18 miles. Take first left in Ripon on Griswold St. Go two blocks to stop sign and turn right on Watson St. Go three blocks Down Watson St. and turn left on Thorne St. Continue on Thorne until intersection with Union. Willmore Center can be seen across Union St.
Approx. Travel Time: 1 hr. 15 minutes

From: Milwaukee/Chicago Take Hwy 41 north to Fond du Lac. Exit Hwy 23 (Johnson St.) and turn left (west). Follow 23 for 18 miles into Ripon. Continue on 23, now Fond du Lac Ave., for approx. one mile to the first stop sign. Left on Blackburn St. which curves right after 40 yards and turns into Thorne St. Take Thorne St. one mile, until it runs into Union. Willmore Center can be seen across Union St.
Approx. Travel Time: 1 hr. 40 min / 3 hours

From: Minneapolis/St. Paul Take Int 94 to Int 90/94. Continue on Int 90./94 to Hwy 82 in Mauston. Exit east or left on 82 and continue 20 miles to Int 51 where 82 ends and Hwy 23 begins. Continue on 23 east for 35 miles to Ripon. Stay on 23 for one mile in Ripon to second stop light. Turn right on Union St and proceed six blocks to Willmore Center on right hand side.
Approx. Travel Time: 4 hr. 20 min.